Scientific Organization and Sequencing SC010104
Unit 1: Properties of Objects
Lesson 4: What’s That Smell?
Big Ideas of the Lesson
· Smells can be good or bad.
· A scent is an object’s smell.
· Objects can be identified and sorted using the sense of smell.
Abstract
In this lesson children explore how we use our sense of smell to identify and classify objects. Children discover how they can use their sense of smell to locate an object. They use scratch-and-sniff stickers to make a chart of pleasant and stinky smells.
Grade Level Context Expectation(s)
Children will:
· demonstrate the ability to sort objects according to observable attributes such as color, shape, size, sinking, or floating (P.PM.01.11).
· plan and conduct simple investigations to observe and determine the properties of various objects (S.IP.01.13).
Key Concept(s)
attribute/property
material/object
observable
Instructional Resources
Equipment/Manipulative
Air freshener (variety)
Bubble solution (1 container)
Candles (variety of scented and unscented)
Chart paper (1 piece)
Cotton balls (1 bag)
Extracts (variety)
Film canisters (approximately 1 dozen, empty, with small holes in the lid)
Foods with strong odor (e.g., onion, green pepper, cinnamon)
Incense (variety)
Jars (3 clear)
Marker (1)
Paper (white, 1 sheet per child)
Peanut butter (1 jar)
Pencils (1 per child)
Perfume (variety)
Potpourri (variety)
Scented markers (1 pack)
Scratch & sniff stickers (variety of pleasant and stinky scents)
Vinegar (1 bottle)
Water (1 jar full)
Student Resource
Hewitt, Sally. Amazing Materials. New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2008.
---. Hear This! New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2008.
---. Look Here! New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2008.
---. Smell It! New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2008.
---. Tastes Good! New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2008.
---. Touch That! New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2008.
Kessler, Dawn, and Claudia Douglass. Supplemental Materials (SC01010401.doc). Teacher-made materials. Waterford, MI: Oakland Schools, 2008.
Teacher Resource
Fowler, Allan. Smelling Things. Danbury, CT: Children’s Press Inc., 1991.
Hartley, Karen, Chris Macro, and Philip Taylor. Smelling in Living Things. Crystal Lake, IL: Heinemann Books, 2000.
Kessler, Dawn, and Claudia Douglass. First Grade Unit 1 Teacher Background (SC010100TB.doc). Teacher-made material. Waterford, MI: Oakland Schools, 2008.
Lesson Five: Smell. 2001. Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. 9 October 2008 <http://www.sedl.org/scimath/pasopartners/senses/lesson5.html>.
Perkins, Al. The Nose Book. New York: Random House, 2002.
Smell. Ed. Eric H. Chudler. 9 October 2008 <http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chsmell.html>.
Ziefert, Harriet. The Best Smelling Alphabet Book Ever. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995.
---. The Best Smelling Christmas Book Ever. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997.
---. The Best Smelling Mother Goose Book Ever. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996.
Sequence of Activities
Advance Preparation: Make a center with a variety of scented objects such as candles, potpourri, air fresheners, incense, scented markers, etc. for the children to explore. Include some unscented objects since ‘unscented’ can be a property of an object also. Make scented canisters by putting various extracts and perfumes on a cotton ball inside of a film container that has a small hole in the lid. Use poster board or chart paper to make a chart with pleasant and unpleasant smells as the categories.
Safety Precautions: Beware of allergies. If there are any peanut allergies in the classroom use a different substance for Step 1. The information contained in this newsletter by Citizen’s for a Safe Environment is very useful <http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Education/CASLE/scent14.html>.
1. Introduce this lesson by hiding an open jar of peanut butter in the classroom and asking the children to suggest how they will find it. Allow them to use their sense of smell to locate it. Read the story, Smelling Things to facilitate a discussion about how we use our sense of smell to describe an object. Also, read The Nose Book and discuss the different uses for noses. (Smelling in Living Things is another option.)
2. Read The Best Smelling Alphabet Book Ever and The Best Smelling Mother Goose Book Ever, giving the children an opportunity to scratch and sniff in the book. Place these books at a center for the children to enjoy. If this lesson is done near the winter holidays, include The Best Smelling Christmas Book Ever. Help the children understand that what smells good to one person may not smell good to another person.
3. Arrange the children in a circle and pass one scented canister around the circle at a time. Ask the children to guess the scent. Give them an opportunity to describe the scent before revealing its identity. Repeat this for several canisters. [Note: This activity should be interspersed throughout the day, as the sense of smell will fatigue.]
4. Discuss scents that are pleasant (flowers, perfume, popcorn, etc.) and scents that are not pleasant (stinky shoes, dirty diapers, manure, skunk, garbage, etc.).
5. Give each child a “Smell Sort” Student Page and various “scratch-and-sniff” stickers. Have the children classify the different scents as smelling good or bad. When they have finished, the children should choose a favorite scent and draw or write it at the bottom of their Student Page.
6. Show the children three clear jars with different clear liquids (e.g., water, vinegar, and bubble solution or scented, clear dish soap). Ask the children how they will figure out what each liquid is since they look so similar. Facilitate a discussion on which sense would work best. Allow them to smell each jar and describe the smell. [Note: Placing holes in the lid of each jar will prevent accidental spilling or tasting.]
Assessment
Have the children draw pictures of three objects that smell pleasant to them and three objects that do not smell pleasant to them.
Application Beyond School
Children can identify the objects in their house or around their neighborhood that smell pleasant and unpleasant to them.
Connections
English Language Arts
While drawing their pictures of pleasant and unpleasant smells, children can label the pictures and practice their pre-writing skills.
The Oakland Schools Curriculum Page 1 of 3
scope.oakland.k12.mi.us July 1, 2009